At the commencement of this Monograph the extent of this elegant tribe of plants appeared to be circumscribed within a small compass, and we calculated upon one volume enshrining the whole Genus. The termination of that volume left a residuum of sufficient magnitude to complete a second, at whose termination an ample fund for continuation was still apparent. A third is finished; and there yet remains enough to form a fourth, the conclusion of which will, we think, contain all that are as yet in cultivation with us, as the limits of this extensive family appear at present to be bounded within three hundred species and distinct varieties; and unless some new source should be found to extend it, by the discovery of some unexpected mine of novelty, it may be then considered as for a time completed; although, no doubt, from the beautiful variations occasionally raised from seed, there will be still further accessions of novelty to merit attention at some future period, by way of appendix.
When the author first began to delineate the Erica family in the year 1794, the greater part of the species then known had been so recently imported, that the seeds did not ripen with us. A period of fifteen years having since elapsed, many of them have become so far naturalized as to perfect their seed freely. The prevalent idea of their not ripening with us is owing to a want of sufficient attention to preserve them; for, as soon as the seeds are perfect, if not immediately collected, the capsule splits, and the seeds, which are extremely small, escape unperceived.
The fourth volume will contain, in addition to each figure, a short account of who first raised it, &c., and at the end of the volume (which the author trusts will be completed in much less time than the foregoing ones) all the seeds that can possibly be procured will be represented, both of the natural size and magnified, to render the work as complete as the progressive increase of the vegetable kingdom will possibly admit of.[Pg 4]
SYSTEMATICAL ARRANGEMENT
OF THE
LXXII ERICAS, OR HEATHS, CONTAINED IN
VOL. III.
Taken from the shape of the tips, and the number of leaves which surround the stem in one whorl.
| Antheræ aristatæ. | Tips bearded. |
| Foliis ternis. | Leaves by threes. |
| E. hirta, viridiflora | Hairy, green-flowered |
| incurva | Incurved-leaf |
| lachnæa | Lachnæa-like |
| β purpurea | β purple |
| Nivenia, longiflora | Nivens, long-flowered |
| lanuginosa | Flannelly |
| lævis | Smooth |
| Foliis quaternis. | Leaves by fours. |
| Blandfordia | Blandford |
| β mammosa, minor | Nipple, small |
| Patersonia, major | Paterson, large |
| β coccinea | β scarlet |
| Foliis senis. | Leaves by sixes. |
| racemifera | Clustered |
| Antheræ cristatæ. | Tips crested. |
| Foliis ternis. | Leaves by threes. |
| Andromedæflora | Andromeda-flowered |
| calycina, major | Calycined, large |
| δ minor | δ small |
| elegans | Elegant |
| laxa | Loose |
| nitida | Shining |
| vernix | Varnished |
| emarginata | Emarginated |
| Foliis quaternis. | Leaves by fours. |
| australis | Southern |
| squamose | Scaly |
| Antheræ bicornutæ. | Tips two-horned. |
| Foliis ternis. | Leaves by threes. |
| fimbriata | Fringed |
| globosa | Globular |
| Irbyana | Irby |
| planifolia | Flat-leaved |
| Savileia | Savile |
| Foliis quaternis. | Leaves by fours. |
| aristata | Bearded |
| obbata, Var. umbellata | Bottle, umbelled var. |
| densa | Close or thick |
| mutabilis | Changeable |
| prægnans | Pregnant |
| metulæflora | Skittle-flowered |
| Foliis senis. | Leaves by sixes. |
| blanda | Blush-colored |
| Antheræ muticæ. | Tips beardless. |
| Foliis binis. | Leaves by twos. |
| E. oppositifolis | Opposite-leaved |
| β rubra | β red |
| Foliis ternis. | Leaves by threes. |
| Banksia, purpurea | Banks, purple |
| canaliculata | Channelled |
| β minor | β small |
| clavata | Club shaped |
| cordata | Heart-leaved |
| lanata | Woolly |
| mucronata | Mucronated |
| Broadleyana | Broadley |
| pallens | Pale-flowered |
| petiolata | Petiolated |
| Sebana, nana | Seba, dwarf |
| staminea | Stamineous |
| tenuiflora | Slender-flowered |
| α alba | α white |
| tetragona | Four-sided |
| tiaræflora | Turban-flowered |
| villosa | Villose |
| Foliis quaternis. | Leaves by fours. |
| acuminata | Pointed |
| aspera | Rough |
| erubescens | Blushing |
| ferruginea | Rusty |
| Hyacinthoides | Hyacinth-like |
| longiflora | Long-flowered |
| pellucida | Transparent |
| curviflora, rubra | Curved-flowered, red |
| Foliis quinis. | Leaves by fives. |
| echiiflora | Echium-flowered |
| primuloides | Cowslip-like |
| Foliis sparsis. | Leaves scattered. |
| odorata | Sweet-scented |
| Swainsonia | Swainson |
| Foliis senis. | Leaves by sixes. |
| decora | Comely |
| glutinosa, minor | Glutinous, small |
| Hibbertia | Hibbert |
| pinifolia | Pine-leaved |
| β discolor | β two-coloured |
| aurea, flore pallido | Gold-coloured, pale-flowered |
| vestita, lutea | Clothed, yellow |